Creative Journeys Essex

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In 2016 Susan Langford, our Director was commissioned to support the setting up and delivery of the Creative Journeys project, run by Essex County Council with Anglia Ruskin University and funded through Arts Council England. She ran a training day for artists from across Essex and co-led the recruitment and selection process to choose two artists for an intergenerational project in Rochford. She then mentored artists Emma Curtis and Jane Gull as they designed and delivered a term long project Party Time.

Susan is working with the Essex Cultural Development team who are keen to create a new programme with Magic Me, bringing artists into care homes in 2018/19 onwards. In addition she has been commissioned to run four training days for care home Activities Organisers across the county, on ways to use the arts and intergenerational activity to enhance quality of life for older people.

Party Time – Rochford

Susan Langford, Director of Magic Me mentored two artists, Emma Curtis and Jane Gull on an intergenerational project in Rochford Essex. Susan was able to share with them Magic Me’s three decades of experience and practice in the field of intergenerational arts.

The project brought together school children from Waterman Primary School with older people resident in Broomhills Care Home. The artists, award-winning animation and installation artist Emma Curtis and film maker, Jane Gull worked with the children and residents at the care home each week, sharing stories and thoughts on the theme of ‘party time’. The inter-generational group created an animated film about their experiences which can be seen here

The project, run by Essex County Council with Anglia Ruskin University was funded through Arts Council England.

Eileen Thorn, Head Teacher at Waterman Primary School said, “Through learning to communicate with older people, our pupils are developing their own self esteem; developing respect across the generations and showing consideration of the needs of the elderly residents. This absolutely supports the fundamental values of our school. It has been documented that for elderly residents, working with children, has health benefits, including decrease in symptoms of depression, improved mobility and cognitive skills.”

Cllr Susan Barker, Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Community and Customer said, “Introducing arts and culture in care homes provides a wealth of benefits to residents and carers, I am delighted that we are able to facilitate cultural organisations in Essex through funding from the Arts Council.

“We are proud to work closely with cultural organisations in Essex who deliver valuable work to bring our communities closer together, and I look forward to seeing the film of everyone’s experiences.”

Magic Me has a track record of providing training and consultancy support for clients large and small across the arts, community, care and housing sectors. To find out how we might help you contact info@magicme.co.uk

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